Pupils and staff at The Avenue School in Tilehurst are celebrating after the school became one of the first in the country to be ranked ‘outstanding’ by a disability charity.

Nigel Carter, director of education and business development for MOVE, presents a plaque confirming The Avenue School as a centre of excellence to 14-year-old Steven Coats, with headteacher Sue Bourne and MOVE co-ordinator Serena Wootton in the middle row

Pupils and staff at The Avenue School in Tilehurst are celebrating after the school became one of the first in the country to be ranked ‘outstanding’ by a disability charity.

The special needs school in Conwy Close was awarded the MOVE Quality Mark – one of only seven in the country, which was presented by Move Europe on Thursday, September 9.

The accolade measures the quality or provision of an organisation using the MOVE Programme which helps pupils to increase their level of independent mobility.

The school has also been awarded Centre of Excellence status, one of only 12 centres in Europe.

Headteacher Sue Bourne said: “The Quality Mark means such a lot as the staff and the students have been working very hard on their programmes and have been making real headway.

“This is really important in helping them to be more involved in the curriculum, particularly the performing arts, as they are able to move more independently which is really special, not just while they are at school but later in life.”

The Avenue School caters for pupils aged two to 19 years with profound and severe learning difficulties and autism.

Around a third of its 92 pupils at the school, also judged as ‘outstanding’ by Ofsted, have some kind of physical disability with numbers increasing.

The school has been using the MOVE Programme for six years which provides activities combining the knowledge of family, education and therapy to help children lead more fulfilled lives.

Each child works towards their own personalised goals whether it be to lift their head independently for 30 seconds, or to walk a short distance, with only their hand held for support, so they can join their friends to play.

Serena Wootton, MOVE trainer at the school, said: “It’s an absolute privilege to work with the children on the MOVE Programme and help them achieve what had been impossible. MOVE is a refreshing positive approach, as it provides a positive achievement process to work towards.”

The school was judged to be outstanding against best practice principles set by MOVE, which noted excellent teamwork between teachers, therapists and parents in meeting children’s needs.

In June, this year, Brookfields School in Sage Road, Tilehurst, was accredited with the MOVE Quality Mark and rated as ‘outstanding’.

MOVE Europe’s CEO Peter Holland said: “The children, teachers, therapists and parents at The Avenue School have all worked extremely hard with the MOVE Programme so it’s great to celebrate their efforts and accomplishments.

“The MOVE Programme aims to get children moving around in different ways, thereby reducing health problems, including a potential decrease in the need for surgery, and improving quality of life.

“Improvements are also seen in communication and social skills as the children gain the ability to interact with the world around them.”